Sonos

I've converted all my CD's to FLAC and picked up a Sonos Connect (+ free bridge) to stream to my AVR. I chose the Sonos based on the feedback on the forum and also the lack of competition providing all the features I wanted. What is my overall opinion of the Sonos = WOW! I have read on some reviews (not on this forum) that people have thought the unit was a little pricey. I thought it may have been a little high before I purchased it. But this product so far is awesome. Set-up was incredibly easy, I can control everything from my android phone and kindle fire, the interface to manage and play tracks is simple, the SQ is great and so far no hiccups. For a product to have this ease of a set-up, fantastic user friendliness for controlling and so far flawless operation; I consider it to be priced right. This little unit made me think "why in the hell didn't I purchase this 5 years ago". I don't say that too often. Anyways, I'm very happy with the purchase and highly recommend it. I retired my 300 disc Sony CD changer. I'm kind of sad to see it shelved but I guess technology moves on.
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Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
Post edited by Thorton on
Comments
Two Channel:
KEF R3 monitors
Rogue Audio RP-1 tube pre
Parasound ZM 2350 two channel amp
Bluesound NODE 2i streamer
NAD D 1050 DAC
Oppo BDP-93
KEF Kube 8b sub
Home Theater:
Full blown 11.2 set up.
As far as competition goes, none in their price class. The SB was the only other one but Sonos software had the edge on them. I looked at q-sonic, Soolos units, Olive, and they where all in the thousands of dollars. The sonos with a good dac will make you happy for along time. Congrats again, and ask if you need anything.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
1 - As far as I know there's no lossless capability, so while they can work for background music, I don't see how they're viable options for real listening
2 - You're paying for a subscription, kinda like Netflix, where they can add and remove content as they see fit. Now they're very cheap and a great value, but just like Netflix streaming will never replace my DVD and BD collection a streaming service like those would never replace my existing library
I'm not putting words in your mouth Tony, just relaying my general thoughts about the streaming services
My modded Sonos does good on high rez but that was expensive to mod it. Now given, I have compared the modded unit to a non modded unit. One playing high rez files and the other just lossless files in Itunes and the differences while there, were slight. Sure, I prefered the modded unit playing higher rez files but only because my speakers are pretty revealing and those slight differences more noticeable. On a pair of Tad bookies, or out on the deck you'd hear zero difference.
I still have my own music library downloaded in lossless into the Sonos, and cd's stored away. Haven't bought a cd since I got the Sonos and Rhapsody. Not too much new music is of any quality to warrant doing anything more, to me anyway. I dig 24/96, but bad recordings exist in that format as well as 16/44, and some I find almost no difference. A crap shoot if you will. Some well recorded 16/44 is just as good and sometimes better than some 24/96. Mapleshade recordings come to mind. Regardless, it's a matter of taste is all and what fits into your listening habits and lifestyle. For me anyway, I don't want to spend alot of time chasing down quality recordings, I just want to enjoy the music.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Tony, Those 10 beers will be a great start!!! If I'm even in Chicago land you can bet I'll be in touch. Same thing here Tony, I haven't bought a new CD in I can't remember how long. My collection is pretty extensive & ripped to FLAC on a NOS drive, then being sent thru the Sonos then on to the CAL Alpha DAC is pure musical sweetness. Don't for a second think that services like Rhapsody (I subscribe) can't put a smile on your face. Again I'm running everything thru the Alpha DAC & those Amperex tubes add a nice finishing touch on my musical enjoyment. I just don't get too hung up on the whole 16/44, 24/96 bit scenerio. There's pros & cons to both...bottom line is what sounds good to you. I'm more than happy where I'm at now. But you never know what the future has in store. My CD player will never see the light od day again.
Two Channel:
KEF R3 monitors
Rogue Audio RP-1 tube pre
Parasound ZM 2350 two channel amp
Bluesound NODE 2i streamer
NAD D 1050 DAC
Oppo BDP-93
KEF Kube 8b sub
Home Theater:
Full blown 11.2 set up.
Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
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I am now looking into a product to synchronise my two systems through the house.
We carry Autonomics which can stream High Rez Music. This is a very attractive feature but honestly not really. Not all my speakers in my house are of Reference quality. Only in my Family room do I have speakers I want to actually listen to.
I have Speakers in
Garage, Deck,Master bed, Master Bath, Hall Bath, Basement Gym, Dining Room. Thats 7 zones of music not including my Theater system in my family Room. I have independent Amps driving each pair of speakers.
I have Sonos running all my rooms and have a Connect for the Theater system.
How I get my music is I buy it either from iTunes if I'm not looking for the absolutely best quality or I go buy the CD, rip it into iTunes and then stream it to Sonos.
Or if I'm gonna listen to High Rez stuff along with CD stuff or iTunes stuff, I connect my Laptop to my SC-99 VIA USB DAC and away I go. I have a Jitter Bug inline as well from Audioquest.
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
Don't forget to go to settings and check "un-compress " music.
Also give Tidal a free trial, its a Flac streaming service.
B&K
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Current Gear:
Torus RM15 -> Emm Labs TSDx/Bluesound Node 2 -> Emm Labs DAC2x -> Audio Research Reference 40th Anniversary -> Boulder 2060 stereo amp (w/ Audioquest WEL Signature) -> new speakers + JL Audio F113v2 x2
Rotel RA1592 Super Integrated -> Sonus Faber Olympica 3
Oppo 105D -> Rotel RC1570 preamp -> Rotel RB1582 amp -> Focal Kanta 2
Main speakers system evolution over the years:
Klipsch Promedia 4.1 -> Axiom M22ti -> Sonus Faber Concertino -> Sonus Faber Concerto -> Polk LSi7 -> Polk LSi9 -> Martin Logan Mosaic -> AV123 Onix Ref 1 -> Martin Logan Vantage -> AV123 Strata Mini -> Martin Logan Summit -> Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor -> BW 802D2 -> Sonus Faber Stradivari -> Rockport Avior -> BW 802D3 -> BW 800D3 -> ???
Old Gear:
Speakers:
BW PM1 (3.5/5), CM10s2 (3.75/5), BW800D3 (5/5), Rockport Aviors (5/5), Sonus Faber Stradivari (5/5), BW 802D2 (4.5/5), Martin Logan Summits (4.25/5), Martin Logan Vantage (4/5), Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor (3.75/5), AV123 Strata Mini (3.5/5), ML Mosaic (3.25/5), Onix Ref1 (3/5), Sonus Faber Concerto (2.75/5), SF Concertino (2.5/5), Axiom M22ti (2/5), Polk LSi9 (3/5), LSi7 (2.9/5)
Source:
Squeezebox 3 -> PS Audio Digital Link III -> Cary 306/200 CDP -> Cary 306 SACD -> EMM LABS DAC2X/TSDX
Preamplification:
Rotel RC1070 -> Rogue Perseus -> Cary SLP98 -> Cary SLP98F1 -> Cary SLP05 (sold and then repurchased) -> ARC 5se -> ARC Ref 40th Anniversary
Amplification:
HK AVR330 -> Rotel RB1070 -> Rotel RB1090 -> Plinius SA102 -> Cary 211FE -> Classe M600 -> Boulder 2060
Subwoofer:
Infinity Entra2 -> SVS 25-31PCi -> SVS 25-31PC+ -> Dual JL Audio F113v2
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Actually, many do, and some better it. Thing with most these smaller digital streamers is, you need a decent dac to hook up to them to get cd quality sound. You want higher resolution you need a better streamer and dac along with better cables. It all adds up in the end. Just like there are different levels of sound quality with standard 2 channel systems, digital works the same way, different levels of it to experience and enjoy.
I've had the play 1, sent it back. Had the integrated amp too, sent that back. The zp 90 with a decent dac and cables was way better sounding than those other 2 on their own.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
I can understand returning the play1 but i only want background ambiance from this unit.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's